Performance Creative Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Performance Creative Designer

Company: Recraft

Location: Remote

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-26

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 Years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive growth for Recraft by conceptualizing, producing, and iterating on high-performing paid ad creative across Meta, Google, and TikTok platforms.

• Own the entire creative testing pipeline, from hypothesis generation and execution to data analysis and optimization of winning creatives.

• Leverage Recraft Studio as the primary production tool, contributing directly to its product development through feedback loops.

• Maintain brand consistency while adapting creative tone and style for diverse audiences and platform placements.

• Collaborate closely with Performance Marketing, UA, Creative, and Product teams to align creative strategy with business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a growing AI-focused company and emphasizes a data-driven, iterative approach to creative development, which is a hallmark of modern performance marketing operations. The "build from the ground up" aspect suggests a significant opportunity for impact and shaping processes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Produce a variety of paid ad creative assets, including static images, motion graphics, and user-generated content (UGC)-style edits, tailored for Meta, Google, and TikTok.

• End-to-end ownership of the creative testing pipeline: develop hypotheses for creative direction, execute tests, analyze performance metrics (e.g., hook rate, CTR), and iterate on successful concepts.

• Translate raw performance data directly into actionable creative insights and subsequent design iterations, demonstrating autonomy and proactive problem-solving.

• Utilize Recraft Studio as the core production environment, providing direct feedback to the product team to enhance its capabilities for performance creative generation.

• Ensure adherence to the Recraft brand creative playbook while strategically adapting creative tone, messaging, and visual style to suit specific platforms, audiences, and campaign objectives.

• Collaborate with the Performance Marketing Manager and UA Manager to align creative output with overarching growth strategies and user acquisition goals.

• Contribute to the evolution of the creative brand book by identifying trends and successful creative elements that can be standardized or adapted.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative execution and analytical rigor, typical of a performance marketing operations role. The emphasis on owning the "testing pipeline end to end" and translating data into creative implies a need for strong analytical skills alongside design proficiency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating relevant skills and experience will be prioritized. A background in Graphic Design, Digital Media, Marketing, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience: Minimum of 3+ years of dedicated experience in creating performance-focused and paid-acquisition creative assets.

Required Skills:

• Proven track record in producing performance and paid-acquisition creative for major digital advertising platforms (Meta, Google, TikTok).

• A robust portfolio showcasing successful ad creatives that have been deployed in live campaigns, with clear explanations of winning strategies and rationale.

• Proficiency in design software such as Figma or Photoshop for static asset creation.

• Competency in motion graphics and video editing tools, including After Effects, Premiere Pro, or CapCut, for producing dynamic ad content.

• Deep understanding of ad anatomy, including effective hook creation, attention-grabbing introductions (first three seconds), text hierarchy, platform-specific specifications, and advertising policy compliance.

• Hands-on experience integrating AI image or video generation tools into a professional, real-world production workflow. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with design tools commonly used in creative SaaS or developer tool environments (e.g., Canva, Picsart, Photoroom).

• Proficiency in vector graphics or 3D design, which would be a significant advantage given Recraft's capabilities.

• Ad copywriting skills, including the ability to generate compelling headlines and hooks.

• In-house experience within a product-centric company, particularly one with a subscription-based business model.

• Demonstrated experience in growing a personal audience as a creator or influencer on platforms like Instagram or TikTok.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize practical, portfolio-driven experience over formal education. The blend of design software and AI tool proficiency, coupled with platform-specific ad knowledge, is critical. The "nice to have" skills point towards candidates who can contribute more broadly to the creative and marketing functions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated collection of live performance ad creatives, clearly demonstrating impact and successful campaign performance.

• Case studies for 2-3 key ad campaigns, detailing the creative hypothesis, execution process, performance analysis (including key metrics like hook rate, CTR), and iterative improvements.

• Examples of adapting creative for different platforms (Meta, Google, TikTok) and audience segments, showcasing strategic flexibility.

• Demonstrations of using AI tools (specifically Recraft Studio, if possible) within the creative production workflow. Process Documentation:

• Examples of a structured creative testing pipeline, from ideation and A/B testing methodologies to performance review and iteration cycles.

• Documentation illustrating how performance data is analyzed and translated into actionable creative briefs or direct design changes.

• Evidence of maintaining brand consistency across diverse creative outputs and platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical and must go beyond just showcasing aesthetics; it needs to demonstrate a data-driven approach to creative, measurable impact, and proficiency with AI tools within a production context. This is directly aligned with the "performance" aspect of the role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As a fully remote, full-time contractor engagement for a senior role with significant ownership, the compensation is expected to be competitive and commensurate with seniority and impact. Based on industry benchmarks for Performance Creative Designers with 3-5 years of experience in the US/UK remote market, a range of $70,000 - $100,000 USD per annum is estimated. This range accounts for the specialized skills in AI creative production, performance marketing, and end-to-end pipeline ownership.

Benefits:

• Full-time contractor engagement offering flexibility and autonomy.

• Fully remote work environment, enabling global talent acquisition and work-life balance.

• Direct ownership of the performance creative testing pipeline, fostering significant professional growth and impact.

• Opportunity to work with a rapidly growing AI product company where creative efforts have a measurable link to business results.

• The chance to define and build the performance creative function from the ground up, creating a playbook for future growth.

• Direct collaboration with key marketing and product teams, providing broad exposure to company strategy.

• A feedback-rich team environment that values direct, useful input and mutual support.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, typically requiring approximately 40 hours per week. While specific hours may be flexible due to the remote nature, consistent availability for collaboration during core business hours (likely aligned with UK/US time zones, depending on team distribution) and responsiveness to campaign needs will be expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical compensation for similar roles in the US and UK remote markets, considering the company's likely stage of growth and the seniority/ownership described. The benefits are tailored to highlight the unique aspects of this contractor role, emphasizing impact and autonomy.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Creative Technology, SaaS. Recraft operates at the intersection of AI and design, providing a cutting-edge tool for creators. This industry is characterized by rapid innovation, a focus on user experience, and a drive to democratize creative capabilities.

Company Size: Founded in 2022, Recraft is a relatively young and fast-growing startup. The "building from the ground up" nature of this role suggests a lean, agile team structure where individual contributions have a significant and visible impact.

Founded: 2022. This recent founding date implies a dynamic, startup environment with a strong emphasis on innovation, rapid iteration, and scaling.

Team Structure:

• The Marketing team is likely composed of specialists in performance marketing, user acquisition, and creative.

• The Performance Creative Designer will report into the Marketing function, working closely with managers responsible for performance marketing and user acquisition.

• Cross-functional collaboration is highlighted, involving close partnerships with the Creative team (for brand consistency and broader creative direction) and the Product team (to provide feedback on Recraft Studio). Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is central, with a strong emphasis on analyzing performance metrics (hook rate, CTR) to inform creative strategy and iterations.

• Agile and iterative development, particularly in the creative testing pipeline, where hypotheses are quickly tested, analyzed, and refined.

• User-centric design and feedback loops, with direct input from creators using Recraft Studio influencing product development.

• A culture of continuous learning and improvement, especially in the rapidly evolving field of AI and performance marketing.

Company Website: https://www.recraft.ai/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's AI focus and startup environment suggest a culture of innovation, rapid experimentation, and a high degree of autonomy for team members. The emphasis on "shaping the future of creativity" and "setting the industry standard" indicates ambitious goals and a drive for excellence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a mid-level to senior individual contributor position with significant ownership. It's an opportunity to establish and lead the performance creative function, acting as a foundational expert in this area for Recraft. The role is ideal for someone looking to move beyond execution and into shaping strategy and process.

Reporting Structure: The Performance Creative Designer will likely report to a Marketing Manager or Head of Marketing, working closely with the Performance Marketing Manager and UA Manager. This structure provides guidance while allowing for substantial autonomy in creative execution and testing.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct and measurable impact on Recraft's growth and user acquisition. By optimizing ad creative, the designer directly influences key performance indicators such as conversion rates, cost per acquisition (CPA), and overall marketing ROI. Their work is crucial for scaling user acquisition efforts effectively.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Leadership: Opportunity to become the go-to expert for performance creative at Recraft, potentially leading to a Performance Creative Lead or Manager role as the team scales.

• Product Influence: Direct contribution to the development of Recraft Studio by providing real-world user feedback, allowing for growth in product understanding and influence.

• Skill Expansion: Deepen expertise in AI-driven creative generation, performance marketing analytics, and cross-platform advertising strategies.

• Industry Exposure: Gain experience in a fast-paced AI startup environment, working with cutting-edge technology and contributing to a rapidly evolving market.

• Portfolio Development: Build a strong portfolio showcasing successful, data-driven creative campaigns that directly contributed to business growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential for individuals looking to specialize in performance creative within an AI context. The opportunity to build out a function from scratch is a key differentiator for career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This means the work environment is home-based, offering maximum flexibility in terms of location and daily schedule.

Office Location(s): Remote, with the company being US-based and having a presence in London, UK. This implies a distributed team, likely with a focus on asynchronous communication and collaboration tools that bridge time zones.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: While remote, the role emphasizes close collaboration with marketing and product teams through digital channels. This requires strong communication skills and proficiency with collaboration tools.

• Tools & Technology: Access to and proficiency with Recraft Studio, Figma, Photoshop, After Effects/Premiere Pro/CapCut, and various performance marketing analytics dashboards will be essential. The company will likely provide access to necessary software.

• Team Interaction: Interaction will occur through video calls, Slack, project management tools, and shared documentation platforms. The success of remote collaboration hinges on clear communication and proactive engagement.

Work Schedule: Full-time (approx. 40 hours/week). Flexibility is inherent in a remote role, but candidates should be prepared to align with team communication needs and potentially respond to time-sensitive campaign requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature requires self-discipline, strong time management, and excellent digital communication skills. The company culture emphasizes providing useful feedback, suggesting an environment where open communication is encouraged despite the physical distance.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of application, resume, and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and experience.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A key stage will involve presenting your portfolio, discussing specific ad campaigns, your process, and the results achieved. Be prepared to articulate your hypotheses, data analysis, and iterative improvements.

• Skills Assessment: Potentially a practical exercise or case study to evaluate creative skills, understanding of ad anatomy, and ability to use AI tools within a given scenario.

• Team/Manager Interviews: Discussions with the Performance Marketing Manager, UA Manager, and potentially a member of the product team to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and strategic thinking.

• Final Interview: Might involve a discussion with a founder or senior leader to confirm alignment with company vision and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Impact: For each ad or campaign presented, clearly articulate the business objective, your role, the creative strategy, the performance metrics (e.g., CTR, conversion rate, ROAS), and the lessons learned. Quantify results wherever possible.

• Showcase the Process: Detail your end-to-end process: hypothesis generation, design/production, testing methodology (A/B tests), data analysis, and iteration. Highlight how you used performance data to drive creative decisions.

• Demonstrate AI Proficiency: If possible, include examples of how you've used AI tools (especially Recraft Studio) in your workflow. Explain the benefits and challenges of integrating AI into your creative process.

• Tailor to Recraft: Research Recraft's current marketing efforts and understand their product. Frame your examples to show how your skills can directly benefit their growth and product adoption.

• Be Honest About Wins and Losses: Discussing campaigns that didn't perform as expected and what you learned from them can be as valuable as showcasing successes.

Challenge Preparation:

• Creative Hypothesis: Be ready to formulate a hypothesis for a new ad creative for Recraft based on a given objective or data point.

• Platform Nuances: Understand the specific creative requirements and best practices for Meta, Google, and TikTok ads.

• Data Interpretation: Practice interpreting common ad performance metrics and translating them into actionable creative insights.

• AI Integration: Be prepared to discuss how you would leverage AI tools like Recraft Studio to optimize ad creative production and testing efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process strongly emphasizes the portfolio and the ability to articulate a data-driven, iterative process. Candidates should prepare to "show their work" and explain the "why" behind their creative decisions, linking them directly to business outcomes.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Recraft Studio: The core AI image and vector art generation tool, which will be the primary production environment. Proficiency and a willingness to explore its advanced features are essential.

• Design Software: Figma (for UI/UX, static assets, prototyping) and Adobe Photoshop (for raster image editing and manipulation).

• Motion Graphics & Video Editing: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, or CapCut. Familiarity with at least one is required, with experience in more being a plus.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Platform Ad Managers: Meta Ads Manager, Google Ads, TikTok Ads Manager for campaign performance monitoring and initial analysis.

• Analytics Platforms: Google Analytics, or similar, to understand user behavior post-click.

• Data Visualization Tools: Potentially tools like Tableau, Looker Studio (Google Data Studio), or even advanced Excel/Google Sheets for reporting and dashboard creation.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managed by this role, an understanding of how creative impacts CRM data (e.g., lead quality from ads) and marketing automation flows is beneficial. Familiarity with the company's CRM (likely Salesforce, HubSpot, or similar) and marketing automation platforms would be a plus.

• Integration Tools: Understanding how creative assets are integrated into ad platforms and potentially other marketing tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Recraft Studio as the primary tool is a key differentiator. Candidates should highlight any experience with AI creative tools and be ready to demonstrate how they can quickly master Recraft Studio. Familiarity with the broader ad tech and martech stack is also crucial for understanding the impact of their creative work.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Driven: Decisions are made based on performance metrics and analytical insights, not just intuition. This means a constant focus on testing, measuring, and iterating.

• Innovation & Experimentation: A core value for an AI company. The team embraces trying new approaches, exploring new technologies (like AI tools), and being comfortable with experimentation.

• Ownership & Accountability: Individuals are expected to take full responsibility for their areas, from concept to execution and results, particularly in owning the creative testing pipeline.

• Collaboration & Feedback: Open communication, sharing of context, and providing direct, useful feedback are essential for a remote, fast-paced team.

• User-Centricity: Understanding and catering to the needs of designers and marketers using Recraft is paramount, influencing both product development and marketing efforts.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive & Autonomous: Team members are expected to bring ideas forward and drive initiatives, rather than waiting for detailed instructions.

• Digital First: Collaboration heavily relies on digital tools (Slack, video conferencing, project management software) for communication and project management.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture where giving and receiving constructive criticism is a norm, aimed at improving both individual performance and team output.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Working closely with various departments (Marketing, Product, UA, Creative) to ensure alignment and leverage diverse perspectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Recraft appears to be one of ambitious growth, innovation, and high individual contribution within a collaborative, remote framework. The values align with a performance-driven marketing team that leverages technology and data to achieve results.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Pace of AI Evolution: The AI creative space is rapidly changing. Staying ahead of new tools, techniques, and platform algorithm updates will be a continuous challenge.

• Scaling Creative Production: As Recraft grows, the demand for high-performing creative will increase. Developing efficient workflows and scalable processes will be key.

• Balancing Brand and Performance: Maintaining a consistent brand identity while optimizing for direct response on performance channels requires a nuanced approach.

• Remote Collaboration Nuances: Effectively collaborating and communicating ideas in a fully remote setting can present challenges that require proactive effort.

• Defining the "Playbook": As the first performance creative hire, establishing best practices and a repeatable process from scratch requires strategic thinking and initiative.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Creative Mastery: Deep dive into advanced AI image and video generation techniques and their application in marketing.

• Performance Marketing Analytics: Enhance skills in interpreting complex campaign data, A/B testing methodologies, and ROI analysis.

• Cross-Platform Advertising: Gain expert-level knowledge of creative best practices and performance levers on Meta, Google, and TikTok.

• Product Development Influence: Learn how user feedback shapes product roadmaps and contribute to the evolution of a cutting-edge AI tool.

• Startup Operations: Experience the dynamics of a high-growth startup, understanding how marketing contributes to scaling a tech company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth, particularly in establishing new processes and mastering emerging technologies. The learning opportunities are directly tied to the role's unique position within an AI startup.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a new ad creative hypothesis for a platform like TikTok. What data points would you look for?" (Focus on data interpretation and platform-specific strategy.)

• "Walk us through a successful paid ad campaign you managed. What was the objective, your creative strategy, the performance results, and what did you learn?" (Emphasize portfolio discussion, data storytelling, and iterative improvements.)

• "How would you balance maintaining Recraft's brand identity with the need to create highly performant, direct-response ads for Meta?" (Assess understanding of brand vs. performance tension and strategic adaptation.)

• "Imagine Recraft wants to target professional illustrators. What kind of creative approach would you take, and how would you test its effectiveness?" (Evaluate creative ideation and testing methodology.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Recraft and the AI creative space?" (Gauge genuine interest and understanding of the company's mission.)

• "How do you approach giving and receiving feedback, especially in a remote team environment?" (Assess collaboration style and cultural fit.)

• "Describe a time you had to adapt your creative approach based on unexpected performance data." (Evaluate problem-solving skills and adaptability.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in performance marketing and AI creative tools?" (Understand commitment to continuous learning.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio by platform, campaign type, or objective. For each piece, clearly state the goal, your role, the creative executed, key performance metrics (quantified), and lessons learned.

• Storytelling: Frame each case study as a narrative: the problem, your solution (creative strategy), the results, and the impact.

• Visuals: Ensure your visuals are high-quality and clearly demonstrate the creative. Use screenshots or mockups showing the ads in context.

• Data Integration: Be ready to discuss the specific data that informed your decisions and the outcomes of your tests. Don't just present metrics; explain what they mean.

• AI Focus: Highlight any use of AI tools in your workflow, explaining how they enhanced efficiency or creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strategic, data-driven approach to creative, proficiency with relevant tools (especially AI), and an understanding of performance marketing principles across key platforms. The portfolio is the central piece of evidence.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Performance Creative Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to specifically highlight performance creative work for Meta, Google, and TikTok. Include case studies that detail your testing process, data analysis, and measurable results. Showcase any experience with AI creative tools.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 3+ years of experience in performance and paid-acquisition creative. Use keywords from the job description such as "performance creative," "paid acquisition," "Meta Ads," "Google Ads," "TikTok Ads," "AI image generation," and specific software proficiencies. Quantify achievements with metrics.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your creative process, explaining campaign performance, and discussing how you use data to drive creative decisions. Prepare to present your portfolio effectively and answer questions about your experience with AI tools.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Recraft, its product (Recraft Studio), its target audience, and its current marketing efforts. Understand their mission and values to articulate your alignment during interviews.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.